Top Fifty Stories
Top Fifty Stories
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The Top Fifty (Or So) Works of Interactive Fiction 1. Arthur: the Quest for Excalibur by Bob Bates, a well-plotted version of the story of King Arthur as a boy, excellent for middle school (Available in Masterpieces of Infocom, Often Offered on Ebay) 2. Wishbringer by Brian Moriatry, a rather gently fantasy adventure, excellent for middle school (Available in Masterpieces of Infocom) 3. The Firebird by Bonnie Montgomery, a comic retelling of the Russian folk tale, excellent for middle school (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org. The archive is well catalogued at Baf's Guide to the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.wurb.com/if) 4. Winter Wonderland by Laura Knauth, a finely crafted winter solstice story, excellent for middle school (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 5. A Bear's Night Out by David Dyte, a funny story of a teddy bear who comes to life (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 6-8. The Earth and Sky Trilogy (Earth and Sky; Another Earth, Another Sky, Luminous Horizon) by Paul O'Brian, three comic superhero stories (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 9. Photopia by Adam Cadre (With Censoring of Opening Scene of Some Versions), a challenging, beautiful, and very sad story of a middle school girl (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 10. Mother Loose by Irene Callaci, an amusing retelling of some classic
fairy tales, excellent for middle school (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 12. Lost New York by Neil DeMause, a detailed, well research time travel story about the Big Apple; excellent for more mature middle schoolers and for high schoolers (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 13. Suspect by Dave Lebling, a rather challenging murder mystery, set at a high-society costume party (Available in Masterpieces of Infocom) 14. Moonmist by Jim Lawrence and Stu Gally, a mystery for kids, set in a Cornish castle, good for middle school (Available in Masterpieces of Infocom) 15. Zork I by Marc Blank and Dave Lebling, a fantasy treasure hunt (Available at http://www.csd.uwo.ca/Infocom/download.html) 16. The One That Got Away by Leon Lin, a brief, funny story about fishing (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 17. Glowgrass by Nate Cull, a sad but graceful science fiction story, set in a post apocalyptic future (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 18. Small World by Andrew Pontius, a fantasy about a boy who sets a mixed up world right (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 19. The Magic Toyshop by Gareth Rees, an imaginative puzzle fest (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 20. Minsheng by Deane Saunders, a sometimes mystical story, always gentle story involving martial arts (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 21. Dragon Adventure by William Stott, an adventure story for children aged nine and up (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 22. The Great Xavio by Reese Warner, a comic detective story (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 23. Bronze by Emily Short, a Gothic retelling of Beauty and the Beast, with some relatively mild references to sexuality and suicide, good for high school (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 24. Dreamhold by Andrew Plotkin, a difficult fantasy story with help for beginners (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 25. The Witness by Stu Galley, a mock-noir mystery, good for high school (Available in Masterpieces of Infocom) 26. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Steve Meretzsky and Douglas Adams, a sometimes-silly interactive story based loosely on a famous novel (Available at http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/hitchhikers/game.shtml) 27. Trinity by Brian Moriarty, brilliant but difficult fantasy based on the origin of nuclear weaponry (Available in Masterpieces of Infocom) 28. A Mind Forever Voyaging by Steve Meretzsky, soaringly literary but difficult tale of a dangerous future, good for high school (Available in Masterpieces of Infocom) 29. Seastalker by Stu Galley and Jim Lawrence, adventure in a futuristic submarine, good for middle school (Available in Masterpieces of Infocom) 30. The Orion Agenda by Ryan Weisenberger, a Star-Trek-like story of a distant planet (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 31. Ballyhoo by Jeff O’Neill, mystery-adventure, set in a circus (Available in Masterpieces of Infocom) 32. At the Bottom of the Garden by Adam Biltcliff, a comic tale of an invasion by miniature dragons (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 33. Arrival by Stephen Granade, funny sendup of low-budget science fiction movies (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 34. Plantefall by Steve Meretzsky, a comic science fiction story with some tough puzzles, good for high school (Available in Masterpieces of Infocom) 35. Savoir Faire by Emily Short, a beautifully written, difficult puzzle fest, with a romantic twist, excellent for high school (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 36. Zork III by Marc Blank and Dave Lebling, a fantasy story with interesting character interaction. (Available at http://www.csd.uwo.ca/Infocom/games.html) 37. Christminster by Gareth Rees, a difficult, detailed, finely crafted tale of alchemy and intrigue, set at a British university (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 38. Plundered Hearts by Amy Briggs, a spoof or romance novels, with some mild sexual references, good for high school (Available in Masterpieces of Infocom) 38. Sherlock: the Riddle of the Crown Jewels by Bob Bates, a complex mystery with a realistic map of Victorian London (Available in Masterpieces of Infocom) 40. MythTale by Temari Seikaiha, a clever blending of several Greek myths (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 41. The Colour Pink by Robert Street, a space-exploration story with some clever twists, a mild sexual reference or two, sometimes simplistic prose styles, some avoidable violence (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 42. Galatea by Emily Short, lovely and challenging retelling of the Pygmalion myth, good for high school (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 43. Curses! by Graham Nelson, a difficult, witty, atmospheric tale of a haunted house (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 44. 1893: A World's Fair Mystery, by Peter Napstad, a remarkably detailed story, set at America's most important world's fair, a bit gory at times, with one mild sexual reference (Available for Purchase at http://www.cdaccess.com/html/shared/1893.htm) 45. Worlds Apart by Suzanne Britton, an extraordinarily rich fantasy story for skilled readers (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 46. The Meteor, the Stone, and a Long Glass of Sherbet by Graham Nelson, a funny and cohesive fantasy tale (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 47. Zork Zero by Steve Meretzsky, a very funny fantasy adventure, good for high school (Available in Masterpiece of Infocom) 46. Spider and Web by Andrew Plotkin, a spy story with an unusual plot structure and theme, ideal for skilled readers (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 49. Moon-Shaped by Jason Ermer, a compelling, somewhat Gothic fairy tale. Though sad and intense, this story is accessible to some younger teenagers. (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 50. Once and Future by Kevin Wilson, a time travel adventure that combines Arthurian legends and the Vietnam War, for mature readers (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 51. Zork II by Marc Blank and Dave Lebling, a challenging fantasy treasure hunt with an amusing wizard character (Available at http://www.csd.uwo.ca/Infocom/games.html) 52. Enchanter by Marc Blank and Dave Lebling, a challenging tale of spells and magic (Available in Masterpiece of Infocom) 53. Floatpoint
by Emily Short, an artistically crafted story of interplanetary diplomacy.
Themes of genetic engineering of sentient life make this story better for older
students. (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 55. The Light: Shelby's Addendum, by Colm McCarthy, a complex science fiction tale with a carefully crafted map and difficult problems (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 56. Nord and Bert Couldn't Make Head or Tail of It by Jeff O'Neil, a hilarious collection of short stories based on word play (Available in Masterpieces of Infocom) 57. The Beetomonger's Journal by Scott Sharkey,
well-written, enjoyable tale of archeology (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 59. Metamorphoses by Emily Short, a challenging story of magical transformations (Available at the Interactive Fiction Archive, http://www.ifarchive.org) 60. Deadline by Marc Blank, a really hard mystery story with good character interaction (Available in Masterpiece of Infocom)
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